Henry Island Residence is an off-the-grid family retreat for a Grammy-winning music producer

World-famous music producer Adam Kasper commissioned architect Bohlin Cywinski Jackson to design an off-grid green-roofed vacation residence for his family on Henry Island, in Washington State’s Salish Sea. Kasper, who produced albums for Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, and the Foo Fighters, had members of the Lummi tribe bless the house which sits on an ancient burial site.

The Henry Island residence is located on a pristine site in Washington State’s Salish Sea area and is accessed via a staggered wooden boardwalk which winds around the perimeter of the house. The boardwalk slides through two pavilion-like structures, where the smells, sounds and temperature of the natural surroundings are amplified. The pavilions and the portions of the house which accommodate bedrooms are lifted on stilts – this helps preserve the original state.

Natural materials such as glue-laminated fir rafters, plywood decking and cedar slats are combined with steel columns and beams, giving the residence an organic feel. The house provides wonderful views of the forest and water and functions both as a party venue and a quiet family retreat.